Our Autumn Open House is normally not an expanded event during years hosting the US National Bonsai Exhibition. This is not a “normal” year with nearly all bonsai events throughout the world being cancelled. So this year’s Autumn Open House will feature displays, sales and free programs on Saturday-Sunday, September 12-13, 2020. There are two special highlights this year, a Suiseki Exhibit and sales from the Joe Noga Bonsai Collection.

The 2020 growing season has been great! Together with the weather and not being able to travel has provided the opportunity to spend more time creating new bonsai as well as refining several developed specimens. Additionally, after an absence of many years, we set up a mist system to propagate some rare varieties used for bonsai training.

 

Displays

Fine quality bonsai will be formally and informally displayed in the studio. Four formal bonsai displayed in our outdoor workshop where the FREE Bonsai Demonstrations will take place. Finally, bonsai will be artistically displayed in the garden featuring a formal outdoor alcove.

Sales

In addition to beautiful developed bonsai a large selection of developing bonsai will be on sale. Nursery stock, grown and propagated here specifically for bonsai are in large numbers. Many newly created bonsai are now ready to be added to your collection. A selection of containers, tools and supplies are always available for purchase. A good number of established indoor bonsai are available this year. The bonsai, pre-bonsai, containers and tools and wire will be discounted 20% during the Autumn Open House.

 

FREE Bonsai Demonstrations

Mark Arpag- Shohin Bonsai, Saturday 10 am

Mark will share his knowledge, skill and love of shohin bonsai with visitors to the Open House. He is an award winning bonsai artist and also the current President of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York. Special displays will highlight the program which will also feature the creation of a shohin bonsai. The completed bonsai will be auctioned at the conclusion of the program.

 

Wm. N. Valavanis- Kusamono Creation & Display With Bonsai, Saturday pm

Bill will explain how kusamono and companion plantings are created and also used to enhance the presentation of bonsai. Several formal bonsai displays, featuring different seasons will be explained and how the companion plantings were selected and created. Following a demonstration the companion planting will be auction.

 

 

Ron Maggio- Suiseki Introduction & Appreciation, Sunday 10 am

Ron will share the beauty of some of his vast collection of suiseki from around the world. He is an award winning suiseki collector who has displayed his stones in Japan and the United States. Emphasis will be on how to appreciate suiseki and what to look for when selecting stones. At the conclusion of the program a suiseki will be auctioned.

 

 

Wm. N. Valavanis- Fruiting & Flowering Bonsai Creation & Care, Sunday 2pm

There are many developed flowering and fruiting bonsai in the Valavanis Bonsai Collection and Bill will explain how some of them have been created and how to develop a bonsai from common nursery stock, cuttings and seedlings. A flowering/fruiting bonsai will be created and auctioned at the end of the program.

 

Joe Noga Bonsai Collection

Over 580 pre-bonsai and some developed bonsai from the famous Joe Noga Bonsai Collection in North Carolina will be available for sale. He has been propagating thousands of select plants for us during the past 15 years and is running out of room. A large selection of Noga Crabapples, Dwarf Mulberry, Chinese Quince, Kingsville Box, Seiju Elm, Koto Hime maples and more are available, while a small collection of developed bonsai are here for sale. Be on the lookout for developed masterpiece bonsai for sale at next year’s 2021 7^th US National Bonsai Exhibition on September 11-12, 2021. All of his trees are winter hardy.

7^th Upstate New York Suiseki Exhibit

The Suiseki Study Group of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York will be presenting an exhibit of member’s suiseki during the Open House. Our greenhouse has been transformed into areas where our members can share their stones. Recently the group had a stone collecting field trip where 12 members each collected some very good and interesting stones from a stream. A few will be displayed along with other famous suiseki. Photos are from last year’s exhibit.

All events are FREE and open to everyone who appreciates bonsai and would like to add to their collection. Please be safe and remember to bring and wear a mask and social distance. If you have health concerns about attending this exciting event, make an appointment for a visit. The 20% discount will be extended to you for a week. Looking forward to welcoming visitors and friends to this special event.